Preparation of PMMA-Ni core-shell composite particles by electroless plating on polyelectrolyte-modified PMMA beads

Surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads was modified deliberately by poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) molecules and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) molecules through electrostatic adsorption in water. The adsorbed polyelectrolytes facilitated preferential deposition and growth of uniform nickel (Ni) shell on the PMMA surface when electroless (autocatalytic) plating was carried out using nickel chloride as the metal source and dimethylamine borane (DMAB) as the reducing agent. A dense Ni layer with an adhesive interface resulted. Crystallinity, film structure, and the electrical resistivity of the PMMA-Ni core-shell composites were examined as the DMAB concentration varies.